Over the past two days, the Thai opposition has fiercely criticized Prime Minister Padongdan Sinawat, leading her to withstand a vote of no confidence in the Thai parliament. Of the 488 members present, 319 voted in favor, and 7 abstained.
The motion was led by the People's Party, which accused her of lacking independence and claimed that her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawat, was still manipulating government policies behind the scenes. Concerns were also raised about her handling of economic and national affairs, with some opposition members questioning her suitability for the role due to her relatively limited political experience.
One of the most controversial topics under her leadership has been the push to legalize casino resorts, making them part of a major entertainment center. Both she and her father have expressed support for the proposal, seeing it as a potential way to combat illegal gambling and generate new tourism and tax revenues.
Earlier this month, she told reporters that the cabinet would not rush through the entertainment complex bill. The Prime Minister stated that public and stakeholder opinions would be carefully reviewed before moving forward. A recent government-led consultation showed that about 80% of respondents support the idea of legal casino resorts.
The bill is still awaiting cabinet review, and a definite timetable has not yet been set. Critics argue that without proper feasibility studies and stronger regulatory planning, the risks could outweigh the benefits.
